Cecilia Gu didn't mean to ignore Shang Ke's situation—it was just that Shang Ke had been keeping an extremely low profile lately.
Except for a few gatherings with close friends, he handed off all other matters to his deputy general manager.
Even at get-togethers with his best friends, he rarely talked about himself.
At this time, Rona Muir was pregnant again. Just like before, Jiro Hirayama used his old tricks and quickly found out it was a girl.
When Rona heard she was having another girl, she rushed to Cecilia for advice and kept praying, hoping her daughter wouldn't be as mischievous as Yina Yin!
With Rona's second pregnancy, the company affairs once again fell on Cecilia's shoulders, so she was so busy she barely had time to check on Shang Ke.
On top of that, Xiao Wang was about to give birth. Emma, it was chaos everywhere!
Xiao A also took leave to accompany Xiao Wang for the delivery, and Cecilia kept sending people over with supplements. Life was a whirlwind of activity.
Still, no matter how busy Cecilia was, she noticed that something seemed off with two people.
Who?
Xiao Heng and Li Yuling!
One is Charles Yin's chief special assistant, and the other is Yina Yin's first teacher.
Their jobs overlap in some ways.
At some point, the two seemed to take a liking to each other, but neither said a word—both kept it bottled up.
So how did Cecilia notice?
Actually, Yina Yin was the first to notice.
One day, Yina ran over and tugged at Cecilia's sleeve, asking, "Mommy, am I not handsome anymore?"
Hmm, that question was definitely odd.
Most kids ask, 'Am I being naughty?'
Only our Yina asks if he's not handsome anymore!
But none of this stopped Cecilia from thinking it was strange!
"Xiao Nuo, what's going on?" Cecilia squatted down and touched Yina's forehead. Hmm, a little sweaty, but temperature was normal.
"Mommy, lately Teacher Li hasn't been looking at me—she only looks at Uncle Xiao Heng." Yina said seriously, "She used to only look at me!"
Cecilia couldn't help but facepalm.
Wait, hold on!
Li Yuling looks at Xiao Heng?
What's going on here?
Yina continued seriously, "And when Teacher Li sees Uncle Xiao Heng, she gets a fever!"
"A fever?" Cecilia was stunned.
"Yeah! Her cheeks get all red!" Yina insisted, "Mommy, remember when Ziyue got sick last time? His cheeks were red too!"
Cecilia instantly understood and burst out laughing.
Don't be fooled by her daughter acting cool all the time—she's just a three-year-old and doesn't know the difference between blushing and being sick.
Hmm, in this respect, it seems her son figured things out earlier than her daughter.
Cecilia patted Yina's head. "It's alright, Teacher Li isn't sick. She's an adult, she can take care of herself. Be good, go play. Shaohuai and Moyu Mo said they're leaving in a few days—you should get gifts ready and say goodbye to your friends."
Yina hesitated and said, "Mommy, can't you make them stay?"
Cecilia smiled, "They're here with their dads on business trips. Once work is done, of course they'll go back!"
Yina sighed, "But they'll cry..."
At first, Cecilia didn't think much of that comment.
But when the day of parting actually came...
"Waaah, I don't want to leave! I'm not going! I want to play with Nuo!" Jing Shaohuai cried, wiping tears and snot all over Jing Rong, turning himself into a little mess.
Moyu Mo said the twins weren't any better, hiding from Mo Zixin: "We don't want to go, we don't want to go home! Boohoo... Nuo, come save us! Didn't you promise you'd protect us forever? Boohoo, Daddy, can't we stay in Province Y? Can you buy a house here too? Boohoo, we don't want to leave Nuo..."
Jing Rong and Mo Zixin looked at Yina, who stood there innocently, both with exasperated expressions.
What a magnetic pull!
Could this be fate?
So every generation of the Mo family ends up hopelessly smitten with daughters from the Yun family?
Yina said awkwardly, "Alright, alright, stop crying. I'll share the eggs I just got with you all."
Then Yina actually took a few eggs from the nanny behind her.
When the adults saw those eggs, they almost kicked them out of Yina's hands!
Do you know what kind of eggs she brought out?
Snake eggs!
Cecilia and Charles Yin were so shocked they nearly lost their souls!
"Where did you get those, kid?" Cecilia stammered, still scared.
Yina thought for a moment, then turned to look at Mu Ziyue.
Mu Ziyue immediately shrank back and whispered, "We sneaked into the snake garden a few days ago..."
Alright, no need for explanations!
These rascals must've snuck into the high school division!
Because at Saint Diana Academy, only the high school division keeps snakes!
All the adults were exasperated.
Whenever these kids get together, there's never a day without trouble!
And the one who causes the most headaches is Yina!
Because every idea comes from her!
Yina held up the snake eggs, reluctantly telling Shaohuai and Moyu Mo, "Here, little treasures, I'll share some with you. You have to take good care of them—don't forget to hatch them!"
Hatch the eggs...
Oh my god, what are these kids thinking?
They actually want to hatch eggs, and snake eggs at that!
Shaohuai and Moyu Mo happily ran over and carefully took the eggs.
The nearby bodyguard quickly took them.
These little devils are going to be the death of us!
"Alright, you guys should head back!" Yina waved grandly. "When you grow up, come study at Saint Diana Academy too—then we can all play together!"
Shaohuai and Moyu Mo immediately turned to their dads, "We want to study here too!"
Jing Rong was exasperated. "Didn't we already agree to study in England?"
[Irrelevant system message about continuing to the next page; skip translation.]
"I don't want to go to England! Boohoo, I want to go to Saint Diana Academy! I want to be with Nuo!" Jing Shaohuai cried, kicking his legs.
Yina glared at him, "Call me Brother Nuo!"
Jing Rong looked speechless at Yina, then said to Shaohuai, "Be good, let's talk to Mommy about it when we get home. If she agrees, you can study here!"
When Moyu Mo heard Shaohuai could study here, he started to whine too, turning to Mo Zixin, "Daddy, if my cousin can go to Saint Diana, we want to go too!"
Mo Zixin looked helplessly at Cecilia, "Cecilia, is your Yun family daughter planning to wreak havoc not just on one generation, but the next too?"
Cecilia was a little embarrassed, but Charles Yin just laughed, "No, no, you're overthinking it. Our Nuo was already promised to Miles Gu ages ago."
Mo Zixin sighed, "My two sons are always so well-behaved at home, but ever since we came here, they've turned into wild little colts! I have to admit, Yun family daughters really have a powerful influence."
Cecilia smiled, "If they really want to study at Saint Diana Academy, they're always welcome!"
Yina puffed up her chest, "Hear that? Hurry up and grow up so you can study with me! Brother Nuo will show you how to have fun!"
All the adults were exasperated.
Daughter, why has your style become so strange?
Can we ever get her back on track?
After finally sending off the three crying, rolling kids and their two helpless dads, Cecilia felt the house was suddenly much quieter!
Goodness, with just Yina and Mu Ziyue left, the world felt so fresh and peaceful!
But in the very next second, that peaceful vibe turned dark.
Mu Ziyue asked, "Nuo, did you finally trick Shang Xiaojin into being your little follower yesterday?"
Cecilia immediately perked up her ears.
Hmm? Shang Xiaojin?
That quiet kid?
Lately, he's been hanging out with Shang Ke and seems much better—he's a lot more cheerful now.
He's playing with Nuo too?
Yina answered proudly, "Hmph, in the whole kindergarten, who dares not play with me? If they don't, I beat them until they do!"
Cecilia turned and hid in Charles Yin's arms, "Charles, can we ever get our daughter's style back to normal?"
Charles looked just as troubled, "Forget it, I doubt it. I heard lately Nuo wears training gear every day and goes running and boxing with Yu Han and Miles Gu."
Cecilia covered her face, "Charles, I'm sorry. I gave you half a son again."
Charles struggled not to laugh, "It's fine, our family has always had more girls than boys."
Cecilia glanced at Xiao Heng standing in the distance, suddenly remembering Li Yuling, and thought about pairing them up. She said to Charles, "I heard you're planning to send Xiao Heng to inspect the breeding base?"
Charles nodded, "Yeah, why?"
"Take Li Yuling along. She's got a PhD in botany and marine science," Cecilia said with a smile. "Might as well put her talents to good use!"
Then Cecilia gave Xiao Heng a meaningful look.
Charles was momentarily surprised, then instantly understood. He tapped Cecilia's nose, "You're always the one worrying most."
"Just say yes," Cecilia coaxed. "Xiao Heng's not young anymore, it's time to settle down."
"Alright, whatever you say." Charles always spoiled his wife, no matter what.
He just couldn't help but love his wife!
So, Xiao Heng and Li Yuling were both assigned to the breeding base in Province G together.
When Li Yuling heard she'd be going on a business trip with Xiao Heng, she was stunned at first, but then her eyes lit up and she happily agreed.
Xiao Heng heard Li Yuling was coming too, and he didn't object.
Li Yuling was different from other women—she was rarely dramatic and always efficient.
If it were anyone else, Xiao Heng would probably have refused.
And so, on the day of departure, the two met at the company with their bags and got ready to set out.